10 Diamond Buying Tips To Help Save Money
Our expertise with diamonds goes far beyond the 4C's or simple certifications, and into the expertly nuanced understanding of beauty and desirability that can only come from our roots in the South African diamond trade. We've listed ten important diamond buying tips that will can help save you money.
1. A diamond certificate is just a description. The purpose of a diamond certificate is to identify and describe the gem..that's all. Many consumers feel a certification is a guarantee, warranty or valuation. It's not.
2. Take the opportunity to compare loose diamonds in-person. For example, the difference between a 'G color SI1 clarity' and 'G color VS2 clarity' are nearly impossible to detect to the naked eye, yet can have a significant difference in cost. Our tip; why pay more for something your eye may not see?
3. Refrain from buying a diamond based strictly on the grading certificate. Why? The gemological grades on certificates are far from being stringent enough for financial comparisons. There can be dozens of combinations with equal grades where prices can vary 5 - 20%. With 40 years of diamond buying experience, we've never purchased a diamond without analyzing it in person.
4.Visit a local independent San Diego jeweler for their expertise, support local community and experience true personalized service.
5. Not all 1.00 carat diamonds face-up the same. The same can be said for 2 carats, 3 carats and up! For example, a 2.00 carat diamond for $8,000 will not face-up nearly as beautiful as the 2.00 carat for $12,000. That's a fact.
6. Many consumers feel diamonds with SI1 and SI2 clarity grades have inclusions obvious to the naked eye. With close examination, this myth can often be debunked. Don't be fooled by what a friend says that VS2 and higher is the way to go. We always recommend SI1 and SI2 if you are looking for excellent value for your money.
7. Jewelry maintenance and repairs likes ring sizing and stone tightening can become costly. When buying a diamond engagement ring, make sure it comes with a guarantee. Learn more about our diamond guarantee.
8. Loose diamond never go on 'sale', and if they do, well that's a red flag.
9. Diamond certificates are subjective; there is nothing scientific about diamond grading. We've been all over the country and have witnessed different jewelers and appraisers grade the same diamond differently. It's impossible to have one standard, remember, there will always be a gray area.
10. Meet Harold and his experts! Our expertise, international diamond buying experience and knowledge is best in class.